DESCRIPTION OF CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE FOR STUDIES

STATEMENT

Please refer to the guidance notes below to help you understand your (draft) Confirmation of
Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement. There are explanatory notes for each section of the
(draft) CAS.

The (draft) CAS statement is an .htm file format document which can be opened using an
internet browser, such as Internet Explorer or Chrome. If any characters appear incorrectly,
e.g. ???, check the encoding of your internet browser is set as English.

Check your (draft) CAS statement and advise us any errors by completing a responding draft
CAS form via the link provided in the accompanying email.

A CAS is a unique code and is combination of letters and digits issued by Birkbeck, your
visa sponsor. If it valid for 6 months from the assigned date and you can make your visa
application up to 6 months before your course start date if you’re applying from your
home country.

If you are eligible to make a Student visa application from the UK, you can submit it a
maximum of 3 months before the course start date stated on your CAS.

Your Student visa application would be refused if you submit your application:

• Without a valid CAS;

• With a CAS which was used previously;

• Before your CAS is issued, or

• More than 6 months if applying from your home country (3 months if applying
from the UK) before the course start date.

If your visa application is refused, you will need to obtain a new CAS from Birkbeck
because a CAS can be used only once.

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STUDENT VISA APPLICATION LINKS

• From your home country: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply

• Extend your Student visa from the UK: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/extend-

your-visa

• Switch to Student visa from the UK: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/switch-to-

this-visa

Students making their visa application from the UK will be referred to Birkbeck’s Free Student
visa application checking service.

DESCRIPTION OF (DRAFT) CAS STATEMENT

• Visa category: Student

• Name of sponsor: Birkbeck, University of London

• Birkbeck is a Higher Education Provider (HEPO with a track record of

compliance.

• Located in inner-London

• Sponsor licence number: 9NKX7B8M9

• CAS number: Your CAS number. It will be blank if a draft CAS.

• Date assigned: The date your CAS was issued. It will be blank if a draft CAS.

• Sponsor’s note: It will normally show ‘N/A’. However, if Birkbeck provided

further information to the Home Office, the details will be stated here.

• Your name: Your full name as they appear on your passport, including any
middle (other) names. If you have only one name, it will be placed in the Family name
field.

• Date of birth: Your date of birth as appear on your passport.

• Country of Nationality: The nationality of your passport which you will be using to
make your Student visa application.

• Place of birth: As appear on your passport.

• Passport number: As appear on your passport.

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 • Ensure your passport has at least one full page (blank on both sides) left and
is valid for travel for your intended travel dates.

• Although it is not mandatory for your passport be valid for the duration of
your course length, you may wish to check whether you can renew your
passport from the UK.

• If your passport is due to expire soon or you need to get a new passport for
your visa application, you must renew or obtain a new passport before your
CAS can be issued.

• Sponsor’s system unique ID for a student: This is your Birkbeck Student Reference
Number (SRN) to be used throughout your period of study at Birkbeck.

• Course title: Title of your programme of study

• Course level: This is academic level of qualification awarded when you have
successfully completed the course.

• CEFR B2: Pre-sessional English

• RQF 6: Graduate Diploma / Bachelor’s degree
• RQF 7: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s degree
• RQF 8: Research degree, i.e. MPhil/PhD
• Course start date:

• New students: This date will normally be the start date of the term you
are entering. However, this may be an earlier date if you are taking a course
in the Economics department which has an earlier start date, for example.

• Continuing students: It will be a day after your current Tier 4 / Student

visa expiry date if it is sponsored by Birkbeck. If your most recent visa is not
sponsored by Birkbeck, it will be the CAS assigned date. The actual course
start date will be stated in the ‘Evidence used to obtain this offer’ section.

• Course end date: The expected end date of your course.

• Latest date a student can be accepted on to the course:

• This is the latest possible date you are permitted to complete your
enrolment & registration and join your programme of study.

• If you arrive later than the specified date, you may be asked to return home
and defer your place to the following year.

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• ATAS certificate required:

• If stated ‘Yes’, you have been accepted for a specific degree or research in
the physical sciences, computing or mathematics, and you must obtain an
ATAS clearance certificate before applying for a Student visa. You should
have obtained your ATAS certificate as part your offer conditions.

• If stated ‘Yes’ but you haven’t obtained your ATAS certificate, please contact
ISA for further assistance.

• If you submit your visa application without it when it is required, your

application will be refused.

• If you believe you require an ATAS certificate but your CAS statement does
not state it, please contact ISA for clarification.

• Work placement included: If you are accepted onto a course which includes a
mandatory work placement, this field should state ‘Yes’.

• Main site of address: This is the primary address of Birkbeck.

• Overseas higher education institution: Applicable to exchange students only.

• Evidence used to obtain this offer:

• If your course is a degree level or above: This section contains details of

the qualification(s) used in making you an offer of a place to study at
Birkbeck. It will also list details of additional mandatory information required
by UKVI.

As Birkbeck University of London is a Higher Education Provider with a track

record of compliance, you will not need to submit these documents if you
are studying at degree level or above. However, you should still ensure to
have them readily available because the Home Office can request them at
any point of your visa application.

• If your course is below degree-level: You must provide all qualifications

listed in this section, including English language certificate.

• Tuition fees:

• 1st year course fees: Your annual tuition fee for the year you are applying
for a Student visa or renewal.

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 • Course fees paid to date: Total amount you have paid towards your tuition
fees for the year, including the deposit. It is important to note that this field
can only be updated when Birkbeck Fees Office confirms the receipt of a
payment.

• English language qualification:

• Is SELT required: This refers to how we assessed your English language ability for
Student visa purposes. It should normally state ‘No’.

• Reason not required: One of the following statements will appear:

• Higher Education Institution (HEI) sponsor has made assessment;

• Migrant from majority English speaking country;

• Migrant holds degree from majority English speaking country; or

• Migrant has met required English level in a previous successful visa

application.

• Progression details:

• Previously a UK student?: ‘Yes’ will appear if you have previously been in the
UK under the Student route (including Tier 4). The description of how
Birkbeck’s course represents ‘academic progression’ from your previous
study in the UK will appear. Also, rows (a), (b) and (c) will appear.

• (a) Previous academic level: The level of your previous academic

qualification obtained from the UK.

• (b) Higher/Same: This states whether the level of your chosen course at
Birkbeck is at a higher or same level compared to your previous academic
qualification obtained from the UK. If ‘Higher’, no further field will appear. If
‘Same’, row (c) will be completed.

• (c) Progression justification: Justification of your progression from your

previous study in the UK to your chosen course at Birkbeck.

Last updated on 23 March 2023

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